Pharynx & Oesophagus Flashcards

1
Q

What does cervical viscera mean?

A

internal organs of the neck

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2
Q

What is the pharynx?

A

a muscular tube

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3
Q

Where does the pharynx start and where does it end?

A

starts at the base of the skull and ends at the oesophagus

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4
Q

What are the 3 parts of the pharynx and where do they sit?

A

Nasopharynx – sits behind the nose
Oropharynx – sits behind the mouth/oral cavity
Laryngopharynx - last part of the pharynx before the oesophagus/larynx (voice box)

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5
Q

Where does the nasolacrimal duct carry tears?

A

from the lacrimal sac to the nasal cavity

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6
Q

When is there potential communication between the oral cavity and the nasal cavity?

A

when there is irregular movement of the uvula or soft palate

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7
Q

What is the auditory tube also known as?

A

eustachian tube

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8
Q

What is the nasopharynx lined with?

A

ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells.

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9
Q

What are the oropharynx and laryngopharynx lined with?

A

non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium.

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10
Q

Where are tubule tonsils?

A

around auditory tube

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11
Q

What does the auditory tube do?

A

aerates the middle ear system and clears mucus from the middle ear into the nasopharynx

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12
Q

What are tonsils?

A

collection of lymphoid tissue, chronic inflammatory cells

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13
Q

What is the epiglottis?

A

elastic cartilage tissue that sits beneath the tongue at the back of the throat. blocks food from entering the trachea by swallowing

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14
Q

Where does the oropharynx start (superior) and where does it end (inferior)

A

superior -soft palate
inferior -epiglottis

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15
Q

What arches/folds does the oropharynx show?

A

palatoglossal -anterior
palatopharyngeal -posterior

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16
Q

What is in the middle of the arches?

A

palatine tonsils

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17
Q

What is Waldeyer’s ring?

A

ring of lymphoid tissue in the naso- and oropharynx formed by paired
palatine tonsils
tubal tonsils
adenoid (pharyngeal) tonsils
lingual tonsils

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18
Q

What does deviation of the uvula indicate?

A

issue with nerves

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19
Q

What is the superior border and inferior border of the laryngopharynx?

A

superior -epiglottis
inferior - cricoid cartilage

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20
Q

What is cricoid cartilage?

A

one of the laryngeal cartilages, only one that forms an entire ring around the area

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21
Q

Where can fish bones get stuck?

A

piriform fossa, a groove in the laryngopharynx

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22
Q

What are the two types of pharyngeal constrictors?

A

longitudinal,
circular

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23
Q

What are the 3 pharyngeal circular constrictors?

A

superior, middle, inferior

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24
Q

What is the largest laryngeal cartilage?

A

thyroid cartilage

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25
Q

Where is the superior constrictor found?

A

oropharynx

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26
Q

What happens when the superior constrictor contracts?

A

constricts the upper part of the pharynx and is able to force the contents of the pharynx downward

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27
Q

Where is the middle constrictor found?

A

laryngopharynx

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28
Q

What happens when the middle constrictor contracts?

A

constricts the pharyngeal opening and forces the food down the oesophagus

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29
Q

Where is the inferior constrictor found?

A

laryngopharynx

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30
Q

What is unique about the hyoid bone that is anterior to the middle constrictor?

A

only bone in the body attached to only muscle -breaks during strangulation

31
Q

What cranial nerve innerves the pharyngeal constrictors?

A

CN10 the vagus nerve

32
Q

What is the function of CNIX (glossopharyngeal nerve)?

A

many functions relevant to this, supply sensory function to the pharyngeal muscles. It also supplies taste and general sensation to the back one-third (posterior) aspect of the tongue

33
Q

What is the function of CNX (vagus nerve)?

A

parasympathetic fibres – slows heart rate and breathing, increases gut motility. This is the “rest and digest nerve”

34
Q

What is the nerve responsible for sensory information in the pharynx?

A

glossopharyngeal nerve CNIX

35
Q

What vein drains the palate?

A

palatine vein

36
Q

What essential artery can removing tonsils, damage?

A

internal carotid artery which supplies the brain

37
Q

Why is middle ear infection more common in children?

A

because their auditory (eustachian) tube is shorter

38
Q

Where does the oesophagus lie?

A

neck, thorax, abdomen

39
Q

What is the oesophagus posterior to?

A

heart and trachea

40
Q

What does the diaphragm separate?

A

thorax (chest) from abdomen

41
Q

What is a sphincter muscle?

A

any of the ringlike muscles surrounding and able to contract or close a bodily passage or opening.

42
Q

What is the oesophagus surrounded at the top and bottom by?

A

2 muscular rings called the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters. These sphincters close when food is not being swallowed.

43
Q

Describe both oesophagal sphincters

A

Upper oesophageal sphincter – made from lower fibres of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. Although it is comprised of skeletal muscle. it is influenced by the swallowing reflex.

Lower oesophageal sphincter – found between the oesophagus and the stomach. It is dysfunction of this lower oesophageal sphincter that causes GORD and potentially Barrett’s oesophagus and possibly even predispose to dysplasia or cancer.

44
Q

What connective tissue is found in the oesophagus

A

lamina propria, submucosa, adventitia

45
Q

What lines the oesophagus?

A

mucosa (stratified squamous (non-keratinising) epithelium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosae), submucosa, muscularis propria (inner circular layer, outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscle), adventitia

46
Q

What glands does the oesophagus have?

A

exocrine - submucosal glands

47
Q

What does CILO stand for in the oesophagus?

A

circular inner, longitudinal outer muscle

48
Q

What type of muscle is the muscularis mucosae and muscularis propria found in the oesophagus?

A

smooth muscle

49
Q

What type of connective tissue is the submucosa found in the oesophagus?

A

dense irregular connective tissue with large blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves

50
Q

What is the difference between metaplasia and dysplasia?

A

metaplasia is the abnormal change in the epithelium of a site and dysplasia is an abnormal growth of cells

51
Q

What disease in the oesophagus can result in metaplasia from stratified squamous to stratified columnar?

A

barrets oesophagus

52
Q

What is swallowing called?

A

deglutition

53
Q

What is bolus?

A

chewed food

54
Q

Describe the process of swallowing (deglutition)

A

Oral Phase -contraction of the tongue to push the bolus up against the soft palate and then posteriorly into the oropharynx by both the tongue and the soft palate. the glossopharyngeal nerve is activated. the liquid remains in the mouth in front of ‘pillars’ (Waldeyer’s ring). voluntary process

Pharyngeal Phase - unlike the oral phase, the pharyngeal phase is an involuntary process. the tongue blocks the oral cavity. the nasopharynx is blocked by elevation of the soft palate and its uvula. The pharynx will then receive the bolus after shortening and widening, at the same time, the larynx will elevate resulting in the epiglottis blocking the trachea. finally, the upper oesophagal sphincter relaxes and opens, allowing food to enter the oesophagus via peristalsis

Oesophageal Phase - this process is involuntary. The food bolus is forced inferiorly from the pharynx into the oesophagus after the contraction of the three pharyngeal constrictor muscles (the superior, middle and inferior constrictor muscles) Once the food bolus has fully entered the oesophagus, the upper oesophagal sphincter will contract and close again. The food bolus then moves through the oesophagus via peristalsis. As the bolus approaches the stomach, the lower oesophagal sphincter around the cardiac orifice will open and allow the food bolus to pass into the stomach. Once the bolus has entered, the lower oesophagal sphincter will close to prevent regurgitation of stomach contents, therefore, protecting the oesophagus from acid reflux.

55
Q

What is difficulty swallowing called?

A

dysphagia

56
Q

What could be the cause of dysphagia?

A

obstructions of the oesophagus
diseases of the nervous system, such as cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s disease
tumours

57
Q

What is a ‘fistula’?

A

Abnormal connection between 2 (epithelial lined) hollow spaces/organs e.g. blood vessels, organs, intestines.

58
Q

What is the risk of the condition tracheoesophageal fistula C in babies?

A

fluid passing into the oesophagus can go straight into the trachea, resulting in choking and coughing when feeding. The baby may have a swollen abdomen, blue coloured (cyanosis) when feeding) and/or frothy bubbles in the mouth

59
Q

What comprises the pharyngeal plexus, and what type of fibres are present in it?

A

Glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, comprising motor and sensory fibres primarily

60
Q

What nerve supplies motor function in the pharynx?

A

vagus nerve 10

61
Q

What nerve supplies sensory function in the pharynx?

A

glossopharyngeal

62
Q

What vessels are closely related to the pharyngeal plexus?

A

common carotid artery
internal jugular vein

63
Q

What may cause middle ear disease?

A

When enlarged, the adenoids and tubal tonsils may obstruct one or both eustachian tubes, giving rise to middle ear disease

64
Q

What is peristalsis?

A

the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles, creating wave-like movements that push the contents of the canal forward.

65
Q

What nerve controls peristalsis in the oesophagus?

A

vagus nerve 10

66
Q

Identify the pharyngeal constrictors, and how do they differ in their muscular arrangement compared to the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.

A

Superior, middle and inferior constrictors. They have inner longitudinal and outer circular arrangements of muscle.

67
Q

What role do the pharyngeal constrictors perform, and what would happen if the nerve supply was damaged? How might you test for this clinically?

A

Contraction of the pharynx. The inability for food to pass down sufficiently. Ask the
patient to say “aggghh” as the same nerves supply the uvula (part of the soft palate)

68
Q

How do the types of muscle vary throughout the length of the oesophagus?

A

Upper skeletal, middle mixed, lower smooth muscle as you progress from the top end to the lower end as it enters the stomach.

69
Q

What does the auditory (Eustachian) tube communicate with, and why is this such a problematic site in children?

A

Middle ear. It is shorter and straighter allowing easier access for ascending infection.

70
Q

What nerves control swallowing?

A

Trigeminal (cranial nerve V) Vagus (cranial nerve X) Glossopharyngeal (cranial nerve IX

71
Q

What pharynx muscle is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve?

A

stylopharyngeus muscle

72
Q

What are the longitudinal muscles in the pharynx?

A

stylopharyngeus, the palatopharyngeus and the salpingopharyngeus.

73
Q

What are the external longitudinal muscles of the oesophagus?

A

upper - skeletal
middle - mixed
lower -smooth